The National Times - News around the clock from Sydney, Australia and around the world

Undercover officers posing as sex buyers at last week's Comic-Con event in California rescued human trafficking victims, including a 16-year-old girl, and made multiple arrests, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Boxer Cindy Ngamba said Wednesday she hoped to inspire refugees around the world as she fought her way to within one bout from making history with the Olympic Refugee team's first-ever medal.

China's Pan Zhanle enjoyed a "magic moment" after smashing his own world record on his way to victory in the men's 100m freestyle at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

Home favourite Leon Marchand wrote his name into the Olympic history books with a phenomenal double gold on a pulsating night in the Paris pool Wednesday, as Japanese gymnast Shinnosuke Oka took a thrilling all-around title.

France's Leon Marchand produced a dazzling double gold-medal winning performance to electrify the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, powering to victories in the 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly to send the host nation into ecstatic celebrations.

American great Katie Ledecky admitted "it doesn't get any easier" after powering to the Olympic 1500m freestyle title Wednesday, adding an eighth gold medal to her glittering collection.

Canada shook off a six-point deduction following a spying scandal to reach the quarter-finals of the women's Olympic football tournament with a 1-0 win over Colombia in their final group game on Wednesday.

One person has died in a Colorado wildfire, officials said Wednesday, as around a hundred infernos continue to blaze across western US states and a dangerous new heat wave looms.

Bam Adebayo led the United States with 18 points in a 103-86 win over South Sudan on Wednesday as the reigning champions sailed into the quarter-finals of the Olympic men's basketball tournament.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday condemned the "perfidious assassination" in Tehran of his close ally and "brother" Haniyeh, the political leader of Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas.

Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris had decided to "turn Black" for political gain, as he attacked his Democratic White House rival during a combative and inflammatory interaction with African American journalists in Chicago.

French superstar Leon Marchand added to his legend with a dazzling and historic performance in the Paris pool Wednesday as Katie Ledecky became the first woman swimmer to win gold at four Olympics.

Wall Street stocks rose Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve signaled it could cut interest rates as soon as September, while strong results from a key chip maker lifted semiconductor shares.

Rafael Nadal admitted he may have played at Roland Garros for the final time after he and Carlos Alcaraz were dumped out of the Olympics men's doubles on Wednesday.

Iga Swiatek was accused of being "insincere" by Danielle Collins after a stormy Olympics clash on Wednesday in which the Pole was left struggling to breathe after being felled by a pile-driver backhand by the powerful American.

Meta on Wednesday reported profit of $13.5 billion in the recently ended quarter, beating market expectations and causing its share price to jump.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose claim to victory at the polls has been widely contested, is no friend of billionaire Elon Musk, and the feeling is clearly mutual, with their war of words escalating amid the political crisis in Caracas.

Home favourite Leon Marchand wrote his name into the Olympic history books with a phenomenal double gold on a pulsating night in the Paris pool Wednesday, as Japanese gymnast Shinnosuke Oka took a thrilling all-around title.

Veteran Swedish sprint star Sarah Sjoestroem said she was "so in the zone" after winning the women's 100m freestyle on Wednesday to secure her first gold over the distance in a storied career.

Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael Zambada Garcia is to appear in court on Thursday amid ongoing mystery about the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the alleged Mexican drug trafficking kingpin.

Weary of gunfire and bombs, Ana Munoz recently closed her shop in a hamlet near the city of Cali, which will host a UN biodiversity summit in October that has been threatened by Colombian guerrillas.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday he was willing to share evidence of his election win, with international pressure mounting for him to back up a disputed victory that has sparked deadly protests.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz overcame crushing humidity on Wednesday to stay on course for an Olympic final showdown as Rafael Nadal played possibly his final match at Roland Garros.

The US Federal Reserve left its key lending rate unchanged again on Wednesday, but signaled that it could make its first cut as soon as September.

A Guinean court sentenced ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in jail for crimes against humanity on Wednesday, after a landmark trial over a 2009 massacre at a political rally.

The United States claimed a 2-1 win over Australia on Wednesday as the record four-time gold medallists set up a quarter-final tie against Japan in the women's Olympic football tournament, while Brazil legend Marta was sent off in her side's 2-0 defeat by Spain.

Donald Trump questioned Wednesday whether Democrat Kamala Harris is really Black or is using race as a political convenience in an interview that sent shockwaves through the 2024 presidential contest.

Hezbollah on Wednesday mourned its top commander Fuad Shukr, whose body was recovered from the rubble of an Israeli strike in south Beirut, as fears mounted of a wider conflict.

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz were dumped out of the Olympics men's doubles on Wednesday by Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in possibly Nadal's last appearance at Roland Garros.

Japan's Shinnosuke Oka claimed a shock victory in the Olympic men's gymnastics all-around title on Wednesday, dethroning compatriot and defending champion Daiki Hashimoto in a thrilling final.

Tens of thousands of rail passengers booked on the Paris-Lyon line were unable to travel on Wednesday after trees felled by a storm blocked tracks, French rail operator SNCF said.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday met with Warsaw Uprising veterans and asked for their "forgiveness" during a visit to Poland on the eve of the revolt's 80th anniversary.